Some Limiting Factors in Superintensive Production of Juvenile Pacific White Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei,in No‐water‐exchange,Biofloc‐dominated Systems

Superintensive shrimp culture in zero‐exchange, biofloc‐dominated production systems is more biosecure and sustainable than traditional shrimp farming practices. However, successful application of this technology depends upon optimizing dietary formulations, controlling Vibrio outbreaks, and managing accumulative changes in water quality and composition. A 49‐d study investigated the effect of two commercial feeds of differing protein content and an indoor limited‐exchange, biofloc‐dominated culture environment on Litopenaeus vannamei performance and tissue composition, water quality and ionic composition, and Vibrio dynamics. Juveniles (5.3 g) were stocked at 457/m³ into four 40 m³ shallow raceways containing biofloc‐dominated water and fed one of two commercial feeds with differing protein content, 35 or 40%. Shrimp performance, Vibrio populations, and changes in shrimp and culture water composition were monitored. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in shrimp performance (survival, weight, growth, specific growth rate, total biomass, yield, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio) or proximate composition between feed types. The 40% protein feed resulted in higher culture water nitrate and phosphate concentrations, alkalinity consumption and bicarbonate use, and higher phytoplankton density. The presence of Vibrio, specifically Vibrio parahaemolyticus, reduced shrimp survival. This survival decrease corresponded with increased culture water Vibrio concentrations. Culture water K⁺ and Mg²⁺ increased significantly (P < 0.05), and Sr²⁺, Br^?, and Cl^? decreased significantly (P < 0.05) over time. While Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ did increase in shrimp tissue, no heavy metals accumulated to problematic levels in culture water or shrimp tissue. These results demonstrate the importance of monitoring Vibrio populations and ionic composition in limited‐exchange shrimp culture systems.     

Tyrosine Ameliorates Some of the Clinical,Biochemical and Haematological Effects of Acute Stress Associated with Transportation of Desert Sheep

We studied some clinical, biochemical and haematological variables in Desert (Najdi) sheep acutely stressed in the course of individual road transportation, and the influence thereon of pretreatment with tyrosine. Transportation for 30 min resulted in variable but statistically insignificant increases in heart, pulse and respiratory rates. It also caused significant increases in the plasma concentration of cortisol (from 43.5 to 101.7 mmol/L) and glucose (from 3.1 to 4.5 mmol/L), and a decrease in that of magnesium (from 0.85 to 0.72 mmol/L). The endogenous thiocyanate level was unaffected. The transportation stress also decreased the haematocrit (PCV) and the number of lymphocytes, and increased the concentration of haemoglobin. Pretreatment of sheep with tyrosine at a dose of 100 mg/kg by the intravenous route significantly ameliorated the stress-induced clinical, biochemical and haematological changes. The treatment caused no overt adverse effects.     

Vertical position of the patella in the stifle joint of clinically normal large-breed dogs

OBJECTIVE: To define the vertical position of the patella in clinically normal large-breed dogs. SAMPLE POPULATION: Cadavers of 13 clinically normal large-breed dog. PROCEDURE: Both hind limbs were harvested with intact stifle joints and mounted on a positioning device that allowed full range of motion of the stifle joint. Lateral radiographic views were obtained with the stifle joints positioned at each of 5 angles (148 degrees, 130 degrees, 113 degrees, 96 degrees, and 75 degrees). Vertical position of the patella through a range of motion was depicted on a graph of mean stifle angle versus corresponding mean proximal patellar position (PPP) and distal patellar position (DPP) relative to the femoral trochlea for each dog. Ratio of length of the patellar ligament to length of the patella (L:P) was determined for each dog. Overall mean, SD, and 95% confidence intervals for L:P were calculated for all dogs. RESULTS: Evaluation of vertical position of the patella through a range of motion revealed a nearly linear relationship between joint angle and PPP and joint angle and DPPF Evaluation of L:P results did not reveal significant differences between limbs (left or right) or among joint angles. Overall mean +/- SD L:P for all dogs was 1.68 +/- 0.18 (95% confidence interval, 1.33 to 2.03). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The L:P proved to be a repeatable measurement of vertical patellar position, which is independent of stifle angles from 75 degrees to 148 degrees.This measurement could be used as a quantitative method for diagnosing patella alta and patella baja in large-breed dogs.     

Detection of Antibodies Against Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus in Sera of Cattle,Camels, Sheep and Goats in Sudan

Detection of antibodies against peste des petits ruminants virus in sera of cattle, camels, sheep and goats in Sudan.     

Zur Sch?dlingsvertilgung einiger Singvogelarten in einem Schwarzkiefern/Eichen-Mischbestand im Beynamer Wald bei Ankara

Analysis of nestling food in four species of Parus and one species of Ficedula using the 'Halsringmethode' showed a high quota of adults and caterpillars of the important forest pests: Tortrix viridana, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, Diprion pini, and Lymantria dispar. These four major pest species amounted in the nestling food of Parus major to 50%, P. coeruleus to 52.6%, P. ater to 40.9%, and Ficedula hypoleuca to 30.2%.     

The fluorescent antibody and indirect fluorescent antibody assays for diagnosing stunting syndrome of turkeys

The fluorescent antibody (FA) assay was developed for detecting the stunting syndrome agent (SSA) from intestinal tissue. Similarly, the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assay was developed for detecting serum antibodies to SSA. Convalescent antiserum from turkeys orally immunized with SSA was found to be the primary antibody of choice for the FA assay. Intestinal jejunal samples from poults inoculated 3-4 days postinoculation (DPI) was found to be the best antigen source for the IFA assay. SSA was detected from the intestinal tracts of experimentally inoculated birds at 2 DPI with highest level of reactivity at 3 DPI by the FA assay. After 4 DPI the level of SSA infectivity of the intestines waned to low levels. Serum antibody was detected from experimentally inoculated birds as early as 7 DPI with all birds tested seroconverting by 12 DPI. These assays should prove useful for future studies concerning stunting syndrome.     

Effect of root applied 28-homobrassinolide on the performance of Lycopersicon esculentum

The roots of 20 days old seedlings of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) at the time of their transplantation, were dipped in 10⁻⁸, 10⁻⁷, 10⁻⁶ or 10⁻⁵ M of 28-homobrassinolide (HBR) for 15, 30 or 45 min and were allowed to grow in earthen pots, in a net house. The leaves of the plants, at days 30 and 60, possessed elevated quantities of nitrate reductase (NR), carbonic anhydrase (CA) and the contents of chlorophyll. The values for all the above characteristics were significantly higher than that of the water-fed control. The fruits borned at the treated plants were more in number and possessed a lower quantity of ascorbic acid than the control. Moreover, the fruits at ripening, had higher levels of lycopene and β-carotene. Among the treatments, 15 min feeding of 10⁻⁸ M HBR proved best.     

Response of Sorghum to Abiotic Stresses: A Review

Sorghum [(Sorghum bicolor L.) Moench] is a highly productive crop plant, which can be used for alternative energy resource, human food, livestock feed or industrial purposes. The biomass of sorghum can be utilized as solid fuel via thermochemical routes or as a carbohydrate substrate via fermentation processes. The plant has a great adaptation potential to drought, high salinity and high temperature, which are important characteristics of genotypes growing in extreme environments. However, the climate change in the 21st century may bring about new challenges in the cultivated areas. In this review, we summarize the most recent literature about the responses of sorghum to the most important abiotic stresses: nutrient deficiency, aluminium stress, drought, high salinity, waterlogging or temperature stress the plants have to cope with during cultivation. The advanced molecular and system biological tools provide new opportunities for breeders to select stress‐tolerant and high‐yielding cultivars.